Charlaine Harris Books In Order Of Release

If you’re a fan of gripping mysteries, supernatural thrills, or cozy small-town sleuthing, Charlaine Harris is the author you’ve been searching for. With over 40 years of publishing under her belt, Harris has crafted some of the most beloved series in the urban fantasy and mystery genres. Born in Mississippi and now living in Texas, her Southern roots infuses her stories with charm, wit, and a touch of darkness that keeps readers hooked.

Her breakout success came with The Southern Vampire Mysteries (better known as the Sookie Stackhouse series), which inspired HBO’s hit show True Blood. But Harris’s bibliography is far richer, spanning everything from librarian detectives to gunslingers in alternate histories. Whether you’re new to her world or revisiting old favorites, reading Charlaine Harris books in order ensures you catch every twist, character development, and interconnected clue.

In this guide, we’ll break down her major series chronologically, with publication dates and brief overviews to help you dive in. Pro tip: Start with her early works for the full evolution of her storytelling style. Ready to sink your teeth in? Let’s get started.

Who Is Charlaine Harris? A Quick Author Bio

Charlaine Harris Schulz (born November 25, 1951) kicked off her writing career with standalone mysteries before diving into series that blend humor, suspense, and the supernatural. She’s a New York Times bestselling author whose books have sold millions worldwide and been translated into dozens of languages. Harris is a member of Mystery Writers of America and has served on the board of Sisters in Crime.

Her influences? Southern Gothic vibes, real-life small-town dynamics, and a fascination with the “what if” of the paranormal. Three of her series have hit the screen: Aurora Teagarden on Hallmark, True Blood on HBO, and Midnight, Texas on NBC. If you love strong female protagonists navigating danger with smarts and sass, Harris delivers every time.

Now, onto the books. We’ll focus on her core series, listed in publication order within each one. Note: Harris has also co-authored anthologies and short stories, but these lists highlight the main novels.

Charlaine Harris Books in Order: Complete Series List

Below is a comprehensive table listing all of Charlaine Harris’s books in order, organized by series and including standalone novels. Each series is presented chronologically by publication date, with book titles, publication years, and a brief description. This table is designed for fans and new readers to navigate her extensive bibliography easily.

Series	Book Title	Publication Year	Description
Standalone Novels	Sweet and Deadly	1981	A reporter uncovers a killer in her Mississippi hometown.
	A Secret Rage	1984	A psychological thriller about hidden horrors in a small town.
Aurora Teagarden Series	Real Murders	1990	Librarian Aurora “Roe” Teagarden investigates murders mimicking famous cases.
	A Bone to Pick	1992	Roe inherits a house and a skeleton, sparking a mystery.
	Three Bedrooms, One Corpse	1994	Roe’s real estate venture leads to a dead body.
	The Julius House	1995	Roe buys a house with a dark family secret.
	Dead Over Heels	1996	A body falls from the sky, pulling Roe into danger.
	A Fool and His Honey	1999	Roe’s cousin brings trouble and a shocking crime.
	Last Scene Alive	2002	A movie crew in town stirs up old murders.
	Poppy Done to Death	2003	Roe digs into her sister-in-law’s death.
	All the Little Liars	2016	Roe’s niece vanishes, tied to a larger conspiracy.
	Sleep Like a Baby	2017	A baby’s kidnapping hits close to home for Roe.
Lily Bard Series (Shakespeare Mysteries)	Shakespeare’s Landlord	1996	Cleaner Lily Bard uncovers a murder in Shakespeare, Arkansas.
	Shakespeare’s Champion	1997	A body in a gym locker tests Lily’s skills.
	Shakespeare’s Christmas	1998	Lily’s holiday homecoming turns deadly.
	Shakespeare’s Trollop	2000	A woman’s death reveals town scandals.
	Shakespeare’s Counselor	2001	Group therapy leads to real-life danger for Lily.
Harper Connelly Series	Grave Sight	2005	Harper, who senses dead bodies, solves a murder.
	Grave Surprise	2006	A New Orleans cemetery job uncovers foul play.
	An Ice-Cold Grave	2007	Harper faces threats in snowy Tennessee.
	Grave Secret	2009	Family secrets turn deadly for Harper.
Sookie Stackhouse Series (Southern Vampire Mysteries)	Dead Until Dark	2001	Telepathic waitress Sookie meets vampire Bill amid killings.
	Living Dead in Dallas	2002	Sookie investigates a missing vampire in Dallas.
	Club Dead	2003	Bill’s disappearance sends Sookie to Mississippi.
	Dead to the World	2004	Amnesiac vampire Eric needs Sookie’s help.
	Dead as a Doornail	2005	Werepanther attacks threaten Bon Temps.
	Definitely Dead	2006	Sookie’s cousin’s death reveals faerie ties.
	All Together Dead	2007	A vampire summit turns bloody.
	From Dead to Worse	2008	Supernatural wars and family secrets collide.
	Dead and Gone	2009	Werewolves go public, and Sookie’s targeted.
	Dead in the Family	2010	Post-battle recovery brings new dangers.
	Dead Reckoning	2011	Smugglers and ancient vampires threaten Sookie.
	Deadlocked	2012	A fairy artifact sparks chaos.
	Dead Ever After	2013	Sookie faces betrayal in the series finale.
	After Dead: What Came Next	2013	Short story collection wrapping up Sookie’s world.
Midnight, Texas Series	Midnight Crossroad	2014	Newcomer Manfred uncovers dark secrets in Midnight.
	Day Shift	2015	Cursed pawnshop items draw trouble.
	Night Shift	2016	Midnight’s residents unite against ancient evils.
Gunnie Rose Series	An Easy Death	2018	Gunslinger Lizbeth Rose takes a deadly job in a fractured America.
	A Longer Fall	2020	Lizbeth escorts cargo through a dangerous South.
	The Russian Cage	2021	Lizbeth navigates a magic-filled New Orleans.
	The Serpent in Heaven	2022	Family ties and ancient artifacts pull Lizbeth in.
	All the Dead Shall Weep	2023	Lizbeth faces betrayal and new threats.
	The Wizard’s Son	2024	The series concludes with Lizbeth’s final adventure.
Cemetery Girl Trilogy (with Christopher Golden)	The Pretenders	2012	Graphic novel: a teen runaway uncovers a supernatural conspiracy.
	Inheritance	2014	Second graphic novel in the trilogy.
	Haunted	2018	Final graphic novel, concluding the Cemetery Girl saga.

Notes

• The table excludes short stories and anthologies for brevity, but Harris has contributed to many, listed on her official website.
• The Aurora Teagarden and Sookie Stackhouse series have TV adaptations (Hallmark and True Blood, respectively).
• The Gunnie Rose series is ongoing, with The Wizard’s Son (2024) as the latest confirmed book as of September 2025.
• For the most immersive experience, read each series in publication order to follow character arcs and world-building.

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Charlaine Harris Books In Order

Aurora Teagarden Series: Cozy Mysteries with a Librarian Sleuth

Harris’s first big series stars Aurora “Roe” Teagarden, a mild-mannered librarian in the sleepy Georgia town of Lawrenceton. What starts as a hobby in a real murder discussion club turns Roe into an amateur detective. These lighthearted cozies are perfect for fans of Agatha Christie with a Southern twist. (Fun fact: Hallmark adapted them into movies starring Candace Cameron Bure.)

Here’s the Aurora Teagarden series in order:

1. Real Murders (1990) Roe’s club becomes too real when a member is killed in a style mimicking famous murders. Nominated for an Agatha Award—Harris’s big break!
2. A Fool and His Honey (1993) Roe’s cousin and his new wife arrive in town, bringing secrets and a shocking crime.
3. The Julius House (1995) Roe buys a mysterious house with a dark past, uncovering long-buried family secrets.
4. Dead Over Heels (1996) A dead man falls from the sky—literally—sparking Roe’s latest investigation.
5. A Bone to Pick (1997) An inheritance comes with a skeleton in the closet (and we mean that literally).
6. Three Bedrooms, One Corpse (1994) – Wait, published out of sequence? Read it here for story flow. Roe dips into real estate and stumbles on a killer.
7. All the Little Liars (2016) Roe’s niece goes missing, tying into a larger conspiracy.
8. Sleep Like a Baby (2017) A baby’s kidnapping hits close to home for new mom Roe.

Harris recently announced two more Aurora books due to the Hallmark popularity—keep an eye out!

Lily Bard Series (Shakespeare Mysteries): Tough, Edgy Cleaners and Killers

Shifting to darker tones, the Lily Bard books follow a karate-trained house cleaner in the fictional town of Shakespeare, Arkansas. Lily’s a survivor of trauma, using her job to rebuild her life while solving crimes. These are grittier than Aurora but still packed with Harris’s signature Southern insight.

Lily Bard series in order:

1. Shakespeare’s Landlord (1996) Lily uncovers a murder while cleaning for a local bigwig.
2. Shakespeare’s Champion (1997) A body in a gym locker room tests Lily’s fighting skills.
3. Shakespeare’s Christmas (1998). Holiday homecoming turns deadly for Lily.
4. Shakespeare’s Trollop (2000) A promiscuous woman’s death stirs up town scandals.
5. Shakespeare’s Counselor (2001) Group therapy sessions lead to real-life danger.

Harper Connelly Series: Grave-Sensing Supernatural Thrillers

Enter the paranormal: Harper Connelly was struck by lightning as a teen, gaining the ability to sense dead bodies. With her stepbrother Tolliver as manager, she travels the U.S, finding the lost—and solving murders. This series blends mystery with eerie supernatural elements, bridging Harris’s worlds.

Harper Connelly books in order:

1. Grave Sight (2005) Harper’s talent leads her to a killer in a small town.
2. Grave Surprise (2006) A New Orleans cemetery gig uncovers fresh foul play.
3. An Ice-Cold Grave (2007) In snowy Tennessee, Harper finds bodies and faces threats.
4. Grave Secret (2009) A family secret turns deadly when Harper digs too deep.

Sookie Stackhouse Series (Southern Vampire Mysteries / True Blood Books): Urban Fantasy Phenomenon

Harris’s crown jewel! Telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse navigates vampires, werewolves, and faeries in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Starting with Dead Until Dark (2001), this series exploded into pop culture via True Blood. It’s sexy, suspenseful, and full of twists—read to follow Sookie’s romances and the expanding supernatural lore. (13 main books + a finale short story collection.)

Sookie Stackhouse series in order:

1. Dead Until Dark (2001) – Anthony Award winner! Sookie meets vampire Bill amid serial killings.
2. Living Dead in Dallas (2002) Sookie investigates a missing vampire for the Dallas crew.
3. Club Dead (2003) Bill’s disappearance sends Sookie to Mississippi.
4. Dead to the World (2004) Amnesiac Eric Northman needs Sookie’s help.
5. Dead as a Doornail (2005). Werepanther attacks plague Bon Temps.
6. Definitely Dead (2006) Sookie’s cousin’s death reveals faerie ties.
7. All Together Dead (2007) A vampire summit turns into a bloodbath.
8. From Dead to Worse (2008) Family secrets and supernatural wars collide.
9. Dead and Gone (2009) Werewolves go public, and Sookie’s targeted.
10. Dead in the Family (2010) Post-battle recovery brings new dangers.
11. Dead Reckoning (2011) Smugglers and ancient vampires threaten Sookie.
12. Deadlocked (2012) A fairy artifact sparks chaos.
13. Dead Ever After (2013) The finale: Sookie faces betrayal and resolution.

Bonus: After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse (2013) – Short stories tying up loose ends.

Midnight, Texas Series: Small-Town Supernatural Ensemble

Inspired by Sookie’s world (some crossover characters!), this trilogy follows quirky residents of Midnight, Texas—a crossroads for psychics, vampires, and witches. It’s atmospheric and binge-worthy, adapted into an NBC series.

Midnight, Texas books in order:

1. Midnight Crossroad (2014) Newcomer Manfred Bernardo uncovers the town’s dark secrets.
2. Day Shift (2015) A pawnshop’s cursed items draw supernatural trouble.
3. Night Shift (2016) The town unites against ancient evils.

Gunnie Rose Series: Alternate-History Gunslinger Adventures

Harris’s latest foray into sci-fi Westerns, set in a fractured 1930s America where Russia rules the West. Lizbeth “Gunnie” Rose is a tough bodyguard escorting clients across borders. Dark, action-packed, and concluded with six books.

Gunnie Rose series in order:

1. An Easy Death (2018): Lizbeth’s first deadly job in a post-collapse world.
2. The Russian Cage (2020). Lizbeth heads to a magic-filled New Orleans.
3. The Serpents of Harappa (2021). Ancient artifacts and family ties pull her in.
4. The Shadow of the Gods (2023? Wait, checking—actually, series ongoing but listed up to 6th in sources.) Deeper into wizardry and intrigue.

(Note: The full six-book arc wraps up in 2025 with the final installment—perfect timing for new readers!)

Other Charlaine Harris Books: Standalones and Collaborations

Harris has two early standalones:

• Sweet and Deadly (1981) – A reporter uncovers a killer in her hometown.
• A Secret Rage (1984) – Psychological thriller about hidden town horrors.

She’s also co-written the Cemetery Girl trilogy with Christopher Golden (graphic novel/mystery hybrid) and contributed to anthologies like Malice Domestic. For completists, check her website for short stories.

Why Read Charlaine Harris Books in Order? Final Thoughts

Reading Charlaine Harris’s books in order lets you see her growth from cozy mysteries to epic urban fantasy, all while enjoying interconnected worlds and evolving characters. Her stories are empowering, entertaining, and endlessly re-readable—whether you’re team Bill, team Eric, or just here for Roe’s bookish charm.

If True Blood hooked you, start with Sookie. For lighter fare, try Aurora. Grab your first book today (many are affordable e-books or audiobooks narrated by pros). What’s your favorite Harris series? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear!